A man suffered nerve damage to his arms after being attacked in his Norfolk home by a Staffordshire bull terrier he had recently rescued, his family says.
UNITED KINGDOM -- Liam Brock, 20, from Carbrooke, adopted the abandoned dog when the local council could not find its owner.
His mother, Carol, said Breckland District Council's dog warden, who had looked after the animal, said it was safe to be rehomed with a family.
The council said it told Mr Brock it could not vouch for its temperament.
The dog was found by Mr Brock's girlfriend tied up on former RAF land at Watton.
It was taken to a vet and later passed to the council's dog warden while attempts were made to trace the owner.
Aggressive behaviour
A council spokesman said Mr Brock was "very keen" to look after the dog on behalf of his girlfriend, who could not house it at her own home.
Carol Brock said in the two weeks the dog had been in the family home it had "doted" on her son, and "been like a shadow".
However, the two-year-old Staffie - which her son named Marley - had displayed some aggressive behaviour and bitten her.
They were try ing to find it a new home when her son was attacked in his bedroom.
'Nightmares'
Mr Brock was bitten seven times resulting in serious nerve damage, particularly to his right arm, his mother said.
"He has to have two physiotherapy sessions each week and see his consultant. We've been told it's possible he may never have full use of that arm," she added.
A council spokesman said: "It was explained to him he would be taking the dog as seen and that although it had not exhibited any signs of illness or aggression whilst in our care, we knew nothing of its history or temperament.
"When a dog passes to the council as a stray we can only judge it by its behaviour and reactions whilst in our care. Fortunately, in all but a very few cases rehomings work out well," he added.
Ms Brock said the attack, which happened at the end of October, had left her son unable to sleep and suffering nightmares about the attack.
"We will not be having much of a Christmas, and all because he was kind to a dog no-one else wanted," she said.
The dog has since been put down.
(BBC UK - Nov 16, 2012)
